This one’s for the ladies of SCforM and potentially some of the braver guys!

Now that we’re in the throes of summer I thought it’d be a great idea to mention a few tips and tricks when it comes to epilation – an at-home hair removal option that delivers the same (if not better) results as waxing. Perfect for those lucky enough to be hitting the beach this summer!

An epilator is sort of like a mechanical tweezer, with several rows of tweezers plucking at your hair hairs to cover a large area of hair in a relatively short amount of time. The pros? This gives you the same effect of waxing and even minimises the stubbly re-growth period. The cons? The pain takes some getting used to. Well, a lot of getting used to.

So, what do you need to get started? Firstly you’re going to need a good quality epilator. I highly recommend the Philips Satin Perfect which has done the rounds at Casa de SCforM to unanimous approval. Here’s what they have to say about it:

The new Philips Satin Perfect has an extra-wide head which enables it to removes more hair in one stroke, giving you long-lasting smoothness, faster. Its high performance discs are made of textured ceramic material, which gently grip and remove even finest hairs.

On to some tips!

• If you’re planning to epilate for the first time, remember that you’ll probably experience a little bit of redness and irritation. Epilate the night before to give your skin time to recover or the week before if you have a major event (you don’t want to risk looking red).

• Skin is relaxed and hair is easier to pull out after a hot bath or shower. Have a hot shower and exfoliate the area with a loofah or a exfoliaton gloves. Once you’re out of the tub, dry the area you’re going to epilate thoroughly and then dust with a little bit of talc to ensure all the moisture is gone.

• Now you’re ready to go! Hold the epilator about 90 degrees from your skin and brush it against the direction of your hair growth. Split the area in sections and work through them one by one.

• Once finished. Calm the area with a BHA toner which will also help to prevent any ingrown hairs. I recommend using Paula’s Choice BHA Liquid, Stridex or Clearasil Pads. Don’t apply any moisturisers or lotions straight afterwards as these can lead to ingrown hairs and pimples. If you need to apply something to cool the area down, try an unfragranced Aloe Vera gel.

• That’s it, you’re done! Now that you’re hair free, exfoliate the area regularly to prevent ingrowns and if you see any re-growth you can epilate everything away instantly.

• If all else fails, a healthy-sized glass of wine before you start epilating for the first time helps a lot. Just make sure it’s only one and don’t make a habit of it! Epilation becomes easier each time you do it.

So if you’re looking to keep your body hair-free for as long as possible this summer, it’s a good idea to give epilators like the Satin Perfect a shot. As for the guys, epilators work just as well for you as they do for women – just follow the exact same steps listed above and prepare yourself!

This is a sponsored post: written by me and sponsored by Philips Satin Perfect.